Is Cart-In Campground first-come first-served or reservation?

Cart-In Campground accepts online reservations. We recommend booking in advance, especially during peak season (typically summer weekends). Use campsite alerts to get notified when spots become available.

Are there showers at Cart-In Campground?

Cart-In Campground does not have shower facilities. Plan accordingly—nearby alternatives may include day-use areas or towns.

Can I have a campfire at Cart-In Campground?

Fire policies at Cart-In Campground: Purchase firewood at the office when it is open or use the park payment system. Gathering firewood is discouraged because it can spread tree‑killing insects; visitors are instructed to burn only approved/local firewood.. Always check current fire restrictions before your trip, as conditions change seasonally.

Are dogs allowed at Cart-In Campground?

Pets are not allowed at Cart-In Campground. This policy helps protect local wildlife and other campers. Consider nearby pet-friendly campgrounds if traveling with animals.

What activities can I do at Cart-In Campground?

Popular activities at Cart-In Campground include Hiking, Fishing, Swimming, Biking, Boating, Wildlife Viewing. The surrounding area offers plenty of outdoor recreation opportunities for all skill levels.

Cart-In Campground

4 reviews

24869 Whitetail Lane, Battle Lake, MN 56515

Summer Destination

Featured in:Best Campgrounds Minnesota

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Real-Time Availability

Select a month, then check for open campsites

Quick Facts

Price

Varies

Booking

Reservable

Sites

Varies

Season

Year-round

Cell

No Service

Pets

No Pets

Book on Minnesota State Parks (Minnesota DNR)Official Website

Cart-In Campground

No fees available

Campsite Fees

Park information includes links to purchase a vehicle permit and to make reservations. No specific nightly campsite fees or amounts are listed on the...

No paid fee categories listed.

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Minnesota State Parks

Provider

218-261-6900

I manage this campground

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Campground Map

24869 Whitetail Lane, Battle Lake, MN 56515

No map location available

Weather at Cart-In Campground

Best Time to Camp at Cart-In Campground

Summer brings daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s F and nights in the 50s–60s, ideal for swimming, paddling, and fishing Annie Battle Lake's panfish and game species. Weekdays and the shoulders of summer see fewer visitors than July and August weekends. The tradeoff: mosquitoes, gnats, and black flies can be severe during warm months, even with repellent. Winter grooms trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, though cabin amenities remain basic year-round.

Best

Summer(Jun-Aug)

4.0 / 5

Mid-70s to low-80s, ideal for swimming, paddling and fishing on Annie Battle Lake.

Planning Tips

About Cart-In Campground

Cart-In Campground sits in Glendalough State Park's transition zone where prairie grasslands meet hardwood forest, centered around 335-acre Annie Battle Lake. This Heritage Fishery allows only non-motorized boats, and the cart-in setup keeps your site off the main road. The park also offers canoe-in sites along the lakeshore and yurt or camper cabin rentals for those who want walls.

Cart-in tent campground and canoe-in campsites are provided; the park also offers yurts.

Historical Significance

The restored historic lodge documents Glendalough's past as a private retreat and game farm for the Minneapolis Tribune.

Weather and SeasonsSummer brings daytime highs in the mid-70s to low-80s F and nights in the 50s–60s, ideal for swimming, paddling, and fishing Annie Battle Lake's panfish and game species. Weekdays and the shoulders of summer see fewer visitors than July and August weekends. The tradeoff: mosquitoes, gnats, and black flies can be severe during warm months, even with repellent. Winter grooms trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, though cabin amenities remain basic year-round.

Natural Features and SceneryAnnie Battle Lake's clear water anchors a landscape of mixed hardwood forest, native prairie remnants, and four additional lakes. A paved bike trail loops through the park, connecting to hiking paths that lead to observation decks and sandy swimming beaches. The forest provides good shade at most campsites, with trees and brush creating natural screens between sites. Wildlife is abundant. Deer, birds, and black bears all visit the campground regularly, sometimes noisily at night.

Geological RegionTransition zone between prairie and hardwood forest; park includes five lakes, woods and blooming prairies.

Scenic ViewsWooded lakeshores, prairie-woodland transitions, and views across Annie Battle Lake and nearby small lakes; observation decks are located along trails.

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Minnesota State Parks Guide

Booking tips & windows

When to Book

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Amenities available

Park amenities mentioned on the official page include a park office where firewood can be purchased and borrowing a fishing kit. Meeting spaces (dining hall and historic lodge) are heated and have flush toilets, but specific campground restroom or water facilities are not detailed on the official page.

Cabin Lodging

I manage this campground

Activities you can enjoy

Glendalough offers hiking, biking, canoeing/kayaking, fishing, swimming and wildlife viewing across a chain of lakes, prairie and hardwood forest. Trails are groomed in winter for skiing and snowshoeing.

Hiking

Fishing

Swimming

Biking

Boating

Wildlife viewing

Planning your trip?Check out our camping packing checklist

Policies & Safety

Hazards & AlertsNo specific hazards are listed on the page; visitors are advised to view current alerts and notices for the park prior to visiting.

No Potable WaterThis campground does not have potable water on-site. Bring all the water you need for drinking, cooking, and cleaning.

No Cell ServiceCell phone service is not available at this campground. Plan accordingly for emergencies and download offline maps before arriving.

No Flush ToiletsFlush toilets are not available at this campground. Expect vault or pit toilets only.

No Electric HookupsElectric hookups are not available at this campground. RV campers should arrive with a full battery and plan for off-grid power (generator hours/quiet rules permitting).

No Water HookupsSite-level water hookups are not available. RV campers should fill freshwater tanks before arrival; check the No Potable Water note above if applicable for drinking water.

No Dump StationThere is no dump station at this campground. Plan to use a dump station along your route or at a nearby facility before or after your stay.

Trip Planning Tools

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Questions & answers

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Tips from campers

Short heads-ups about the road in, gear quirks, timing, and more. You don't have to have been here to share what you know.

Reviews

From Booking Sources

0.0

4 reviews

Limited Reviews

Cart-In Campground has limited reviews, placing it in the bottom % of campgrounds based on reviews

Visitors describe Glendalough as a beautiful, secluded park with well-shaded campsites and strong opportunities for hiking, paddling and wildlife viewing. Common visitor concerns reported in secondary sources include heavy biting insects and occasional wildlife (including bears) near campsites.

Review Summaries

Based on 4 reviews

What Campers Love

Secluded, wooded campsites; scenic lake access; paved bike loop and varied hiking trails; yurts and camper cabins available; strong fishing opportunities on Annie Battle Lake.

Based on 4 reviews

Pro Tips & Recommendations

Bring ample insect protection (bug spray and hooded clothing), store food in provided lockers when recommended, and plan for cart-in or canoe-in access rather than drive-up sites; be cautious with...

Based on 4 reviews

Camper Quotes

All of the sites are well shaded under tall trees. | This is my third time here... It is a beautiful place, always has been.

Based on 4 reviews

Outdoorithm Community

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Go if

Paddlers and anglers who want a quiet lake with no motorboats will find Annie Battle Lake hard to beat. The cart-in or canoe-in setup means your neighbors aren't packed in, and the forest shade keeps sites cool through summer.

Skip if

No showers, no flush toilets, no potable water at the sites, and mosquitoes plus black flies can make warm evenings brutal. Bears visit regularly enough that food storage is a real concern, not a footnote.

Campgrounds

Glendalough State Park

Cart-In Campground

About Harry Strunk Lake (Medicine Creek State Park Recreation Area)

Context for the broader area surrounding Cart-In Campground, sourced from the federal Recreation.gov rec-area record.

Harry Strunk Lake, <A HREF=https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=454">Frenchman Cambridge Division, PSMBP</A>, is managed for the Bureau of Reclamation by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Formed by <A HREF="https://www.usbr.gov/projects/index.php?id=154">Medicine Creek Dam</A> located on Medicine Creek, irrigation releases are made to the streams for diversion into downstream canal systems. Reservoir open 24 hours. Fair access roads. Available species include walleye, crappie, white bass, channel catfish, and wipers. Irrigation supply reservoir experiencing fluctuations. The reservoir has water 1,850 surface acres, 7,093 land acres and 29 miles of shoreline. Fishing season is year-round.Numerous tracts provide food and cover for pheasant, quail, small fur-bearing animals, and mule and white-tail deer. Over 5,600 acres are open to public hunting.

Directions

Site is 9 miles northwest of Cambridge, Nebraska. Nearest highway is U.S. 34.